Surviving Winter – people in Cornwall need your help

We are appealing to anyone who receives the Winter Fuel Payment but does not need some or all of it to donate to the Surviving Winter campaign. Donations are also welcome from those who do not receive the Winter Fuel allowance wishing to support the campaign.

The aim is to help people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly stay warm and well this winter. The campaign, associated with the UK-wide Surviving Winter appeal, is encouraging individuals to raise funds to help elderly and vulnerable residents across the county who are suffering throughout the winter due to high energy prices, lack of access to hot food and energy efficiency issues.

Winter is a very challenging time for many people. 1 in 7 households (36,000 homes) in Cornwall live in fuel poverty. Cornwall is in the top 10 of fuel poor areas in England. In some communities as many as 1 in 4 homes live in fuel poverty, including Penzance, Falmouth, Wadebridge, St Austell and some Clay Villages, Fowey, Lostwithiel and Launceston.

Last winter, the Surviving Winter fund awarded grants totalling £19,500, helping people suffering fuel poverty or severe hardship associated with their living conditions.

Truro and Falmouth MP, Sarah Newton, a supporter of the campaign, says,“I’m delighted to donate to and support the Surviving Winter appeal. Winter can be a very lonely and difficult time for some, especially elderly people. I would encourage all those who can afford to do so, to donate to the Surviving Winter campaign. Last winter peoples’ generous giving helped 950 people in Cornwall who struggled during cold weather.”

The organisations who received and distributed the funding to individuals included St Austell Community Kitchen, Wild Young Parents, Penwith Over 50s Forum, EFGI Cornwall Aid Centre in Redruth, Cornwall Rural Community Charity and Wadebridge Foodbank.

EFGI Cornwall Aid Centre in Redruth used a grant of £1,050 to provide duvets and blankets to help people in great need. Some of the duvets were given to older men living in a shelter. Cornwall Aid Centre Manager, Lorraine Carlin, commented, “One gentleman stated that he had never been given a gift before and he would treasure and look after it. This is an amazing fund. It is easy to distribute to into the community as warmth is a vital part of a person’s requirement.”

Tamas Haydu, our CEO, said: “Surviving Winter is a really direct way to support those who will struggle this winter. The money raised from the Appeal will be awarded to carefully-assessed, grassroots Cornish organisations who help individuals struggling in their communities.”

We have also received £33,000 funding from The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity specifically to help fund projects supporting elderly people and alleviating loneliness.